Tips to Low Cost Design – Above Green

Keep thermal envelope simple (add "architectural interest" outside of it).
Keep window area down (10-15% of wall area for single-family houses).
For small buildings, design a compact shape. For large buildings, bump-ins for daylighting may be more important.
Limit "open to below" areas in the floor.
Not too “tiny” and detached – design attached housing with small units instead.
Use good details that don’t require excessive labor to air-seal (avoid "conceptual retrofitting".)